Dermot Weld can dream of adding the Investec Derby to his long list of big-race victories after Fascinating rock booked his ticket to epsom during a Derrinstown Stud Derby trial that was settled in the stewards' room at Leopardstown.
Sent off the even-money favourite to make it three from three for the year in this prestigious Group three contest, Fascinating rock was settled at the rear in the early stages and was still last rounding the home turn. First-past-the-post ebanoran (8/1) made a decisive move at the top of the straight, with Declan mcDonogh's mount quickly going through the gears to take the lead.
Fascinating rock got rolling late in the day and there was just a head in it at the line.
A stewards' inquiry was quickly called and the replays showed ebanoran had first caused interference to the eventual third, Geoffrey Chaucer, then leaned into Fascinating rock in the dying strides.
After lengthy deliberations, the first two places were reversed and Weld said: "I don't want to win any race that way (in the stewards' room). "I thought he was the best horse on the day and interference happened. "I'd be pretty definite that he'll go to epsom and he'll certainly have learned a lot."